Friday, November 5, 2010

Peaceful Olive Branch

Hello stamping friends!

The June 2010 issue of the Martha Stewart Living magazine featured the work of artist Miyuki Sakai.  She makes pictures with fabric and a sewing machine, and her art blew me away. 


I suggested Ms. Sakai's website to someone at Splitcoaststampers, to use as inspiration for one of their challenges.   This weekend the Inspiration Challenge at SCS (#257) will revolve around her work.  Stephanie Severin (aka SmilynStef on SCS) asked me to do a sample card for the challenge.  What an honor.  I'm still walking on air!!

Here is the inspiration I chose:


And here is what I came up with:


I used the Mojo Monday 163 sketch:


I really spent a lot of time on this card.  I made my own subtle designer paper by taking white cardstock and first sponging on Distress Inks in Old Paper, Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen.  Then I used two background stamps, Weathered and En Francais, both SU, in the same ink colors.  I'm tellin' ya, it's very subtle.  Maybe you can see better here:


I stamped the olive branch from SU's Touch of Nature several times and colored them in with Copic markers.  I also stamped one more branch on a scrap piece, colored it, then cut it out veeeerrrry carefully.  That one is propped up on the sentiment panel. 


Since the olive branch is known as a peace offering since Biblical times, I thought the sentiment from the SU set Peaceful Wishes was apropos.  I may just give this to my husband for Christmas.  I'm thinking I'd like to keep this one here at home!


Finally got a chance to use some pretty crochet trim from my blog candy package that I recently won from Ann Schach.  It is so lovely!  And a large, copper brad finishes off the Curly Label punch, which was folded in half around the sentiment panel.

By the way, I kind of stink at using a combo of corner and border punches.  So, it's kind of helpful that the Mojo Monday sketch needed an element on the left; hence the burgundy piece.  And on the right, that fussy-cut olive branch nicely covers my boo-boo!

I'm also entering this card for the SCS challenge, WT295 - Ways to Use Green.  I used about four different green Copic markers for my leaves and olives, and if you count River Rock as a greenish neutral, then my card base counts as well.

Another entry:  The Paper Players, where "Anything Goes" for the holiday.

Thanks for joining me, and I hope you get a chance to play in the Splitcoast Inspiration Challenge #257!  Or just pop by Miyuki Sakai's website (link near top of post) to admire her unique take on art.

Happy Stamping,

Colleen

Stamps:  Weathered, En Francais, Touch of Nature, Peaceful Wishes
Paper:  Whisper White, River Rock, Basic Black
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks in Old Paper, Frayed Burlap and Antique Linen
Punches:  Curly Label, Iron Gate by Martha Stewart corner and border
Other:  crochet trim, copper brad, dimensionals, sponges, Stampamajig

15 comments:

SmilynStef said...

Thanks so much for bringing this amazing artist to our attention ... and for your stunning inspired card. I love all of the close-up photos that let me relish all of the amazing detail. Your coloring is fantastic, and I love the subtle stamping on the background. Amazing inspired design.

Marisa said...

Total gorgeousness, Colleen! Love how you used the mojo sketch and thanks for the laugh re: the border and corner punches. Love the image you used and the Peaceful Wishes script is sooo nice. Fabulously done, my friend :)

Deb Hickman said...

The artist's work of of art is amazing but your card is also an awesome piece of art. Your colouring is so perfect that when I first looked I thought it was pattterned paper,when I saw all the stamping,distressing and colouring I was in total awe at all the work you've put into it. Just perfect !!!!
I definitely think you should give it to your husband so you get keep it.

Deb x

Mona Pendleton said...

WOW Colleen! So beautiful and elegant!

Andrea Ewen said...

Awesome card, Colleen! What great inspiration and congrats on being featured on the Inspiration Challenge! People do appreciate good ideas! Great job with the sketch and the colors, the whole card is fabulous. And there's always a way to cover up those messy edges and still have your card shine!

Emily Keaton said...

This is a masterpiece, Colleen!! That DP you created yourself is just stunning and you worked wonders with that Mojo sketch. This is so elegant. Fussy cutting that olive branch must have taken forever!!! I think you did a fab job with the PATP punching. Your boo-boo covers look totally planned to me!! I can understand why you want to keep this one to yourself. It's so lovely!! Congratulations on being asked to sample for the IC. You really did yourself proud with this card :)

Holly AKA KopyKat said...

This is so beautiful, love the colors and the great design.

Jean Franks Beck said...

OMG, this is stunning in every aspect!!! From the handmade paper to the coloring to the embellishments and the wonderful use of the sentiment - everything is perfect. Loooooove it! ;) Thanks for sharing! (P.S. I'd keep it if I were you, too, LOL!)

Bonnie said...

What a work of art Colleen! I love the way you did the background and the image is beautiful! So many details and all of them gorgeous without being overdone. This one belongs on an easel!

Carol Hurlock said...

Colleen this is stunning. It absolutely took my breath away. How awesome. It is so exquisite. I love the colors and beautiful design. It is a work of art.

Bear Hugs,
Carol

Laura (scrapnextras) said...

OMG Colleen...this is just incredible! Fabulous rendition of the inspiration piece and beautifully pulled together as a festive card. I love the border punch and the lace. Gorgeous card!

Kittie said...

Colleen, This is absolutely stunning.

Jen Timko said...

What an amazing interpretation of Miyuki's piece! Your choice of words, coloring, and layout use are all fantastic! Thanks for suggesting such a talented artist!

P.S. I think my comment section is ok now. For some reason it was seeing yours as spam...argh, computers. I appreciate you letting me know.

Benzi said...

You really went all out on this one, Colleen. Just gorgeous! And, you even did some fussy-cutting and it made your card even more beautiful. Love it!

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, my gosh, Colleen! How beautiful this is! I could just faint! It's a real work of art!

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